In a significant stride towards understanding and promoting healthy aging, a new European research and innovation project has been initiated this month. This ambitious endeavor, funded by Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship program for research and innovation, is led by the University of Oulu in Finland. The project aims to delve into the aging process, particularly focusing on individuals with multi-morbidity - those suffering from two or more chronic health conditions - and to explore effective prevention strategies.
As Europe braces for a demographic shift, with the population aged 75 and over expected to double by 2050, the challenges posed by an aging society are becoming increasingly apparent. These challenges demand integrated and adaptive solutions that can address both personal and societal needs. The key to maintaining health in older age lies in the ability to sustain functional capacity in daily life amidst a rapidly changing society. Early promotion of healthy aging and personalized prevention strategies are crucial, yet bridging the gaps in scientific evidence and overcoming ethical, societal, and structural barriers requires a concerted effort from researchers, policymakers, and citizens of all ages.
To effectively address these challenges, a comprehensive understanding of diverse living environments, social stressors, and the biology of aging is essential. The project adopts a life-course and digital-based approach, aiming to develop bio-psychosocial models and AI-assisted, age-friendly tools to detect, prevent, and mitigate the risk of aging with multi-morbidity. The project team is set to design person-centered health and care services tailored to individual needs and specific life stages. These solutions will be co-designed with input from citizens, patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers, and will include:
- Conducting cohort-based clinical studies
- Creating a Europe-wide digital, interactive healthy aging atlas to guide policymaking and strategic urban development for age-friendly neighborhoods
This extensive project brings together 22 partners, including research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and an NGO, spanning 11 countries. The consortium boasts expertise in various fields such as ethics and healthcare systems, environments and participatory science, life-course epidemiology, economics, molecular aging, trustworthy artificial intelligence, integrated systems design, life-course based interventions, FAIR data management, nursing and healthcare, patient advocacy, and communication and knowledge management.
Professor Sylvain Sebert, the Project Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm about the project's potential impact, stating, "I am thrilled that our project has received funding. It will enable us to understand aging patterns and translate this knowledge into effective prevention programs and solutions for healthier aging. Far too many people suffer from multiple chronic illnesses, combining mental health disorders like depression and anxiety with physical diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, leading to multi-morbidity. Unfortunately, these patterns often emerge long before diagnosis. The relationship between traditionally distinct diseases is still unclear. Personally, this is a dream project, and I am eager to start. Equally exciting is the project's role in initiating the next follow-up of participants in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, a flagship of the University of Oulu established sixty years ago."
The STAGE project, which began on January 1, 2024, is a six-year initiative with a total grant of €17.7 million from Horizon Europe and an additional €2.2 million from UKRI. A comprehensive website is expected to launch by April 2024 to provide further insights and updates on the project's progress.
The consortium convened for its kick-off meeting on January 23 and 24, 2024, in Helsinki, Finland. During this meeting, partners presented and discussed strategies and activities essential for advancing research. Expected policy outcomes were also deliberated, and a workshop on stakeholder definition and engagement was conducted to ensure a collaborative approach moving forward.